Wikipedia:Reference desk/Miscellaneous

Welcome to the miscellaneous section
of the Wikipedia reference desk.

skip to bottom

Select a section:

• Computing
• Entertainment
• Humanities
• Language
• Mathematics
• Science
• Miscellaneous
• Archives

Want a faster answer?

Main page: Help searching Wikipedia

   

How can I get my question answered?

• Select the section of the desk that best fits the general topic of your question (see the navigation column to the right).
• Post your question to only one section, providing a short header that gives the topic of your question.
• Type '~~~~' (that is, four tilde characters) at the end – this signs and dates your contribution so we know who wrote what and when.
• Don't post personal contact information – it will be removed. Any answers will be provided here.
• Please be as specific as possible, and include all relevant context – the usefulness of answers may depend on the context.
• Note:
  • We don't answer (and may remove) questions that require medical diagnosis or legal advice.
  • We don't answer requests for opinions, predictions or debate.
  • We don't do your homework for you, though we'll help you past the stuck point.
  • We don't conduct original research or provide a free source of ideas, but we'll help you find information you need.

Ready? Ask a new question!

How do I answer a question?

Main page: Wikipedia:Reference desk/Guidelines

• The best answers address the question directly, and back up facts with wikilinks and links to sources. Do not edit others' comments and do not give any medical or legal advice.

See also:

• Teahouse
• Help desk
• Village pump
• Help manual

December 22

Recording television to PCs

Is something like this what I need to, say, record a news segment on television and then put it on my computer? 71.213.56.214 (talk) 02:08, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

There's a customer service phone number on the webpage you site. It says, and I quote "Have more questions? Call us toll-free at..." with the number listed. Call them, see what they say. --Jayron32 02:16, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Ah, but what's the fun in calling a toll-free number when you can ask Wikipedians? Basically, what I'm asking is if I stick that thing into a TV, will I get a file of a recording from the program that's on that TV at the moment? I believe that's called a TV tuner, but I'm not sure. 71.213.56.214 (talk) 02:19, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

The ATI Theater HD 750 USB you linked to is indeed a TV tuner, but the way it works is you stick it into your computer and your computer becomes a TV. (It even comes with a remote control and an antenna.) You install the included software so your computer can make recordings of the TV signals from the device. It says it has audio/video input "with adapters" (not sure if they're included?), so you may be able to connect it to a VCR, DVD player, or cable box with audio/video cables, but it would still remain plugged into your computer, and it would still be your computer doing the recording. --Bavi H (talk) 04:39, 22 December 2009 (UTC) + 04:54, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

How did Knights Kill Each Other on the Battlefield?

Suppose two fully armored (plate mail with chain mail underneath, swords, shield, helmet, etc...) medieval Knights with plate mail are fighting each other with one-handed swords. What would likely be the cause of death of the defeated knight? Would the sword be able to penetrate plate mail and inflict penetrative injuries? Or would death likely result from blunt-force trauma arising from repeated bashing of the head with the sword? Acceptable (talk) 05:50, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Armoured sword fighting was actually all about precision strikes. The knights would try to thrust the point of their sword into unprotected areas such as the face or armpits.

Medieval swords were actually rather light--most of them were about 3 lbs. Blunt force damage was definitely out of the question. Regular sword slashes with the edge of the blade would have been useless as well. Plate armour was simply too tough to slice through.

-Pollinosisss (talk) 06:35, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Plate mail was also pretty expensive and wasn't really around until the late middle ages/almost early modern era. And even then it was often mostly decorative (think Henry VIII and Francis riding around trying to show off to each other, not something knights wore in battle every day). Normally they would just have chain mail and leather and a helmet. Technically a knight doesn't even need armour, just a sword and a horse, which was often expensive enough. But, supposing, as you ask, that they did wear all that heavy armour, the most likely strategy would be to knock the opponent over (with your own body rather than with your weapon), and try to injure him while he was unable to get up again. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:18, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Weapons such as the pollaxe were developed specifically for piercing plate armour. An armoured and dismounted knight soon became exhausted in a melee and was then vulnerable to being disarmed and overwhelmed by even lightly armed infantry. Gandalf61 (talk) 12:06, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

And then sometimes they didn't need to bother. One of the Book of Lists by the Wallace Family details the story of the unfortunate Fulk Fizwarne IV, who actually rode his horse into a bog at the Battle of Agincourt, the full weight of his armour forcing him to drown, in much the same way as Carver Doone did over 250 years later in R.D. Blackmore's novel. One of only a few English casualties that day. Once more into the breach ! The Russian.C.B.Lilly 12:31, 22 December 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Christopher1968 (talk • contribs)

In hand-to-hand combat the goal was not always to kill, but rather to capture. A high-ranking noble was worth far more alive than dead and therefore a killing blow was not always desirable. --- Medical geneticist (talk) 14:04, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

I remember reading about small weapons being carried to pierce armour weak points as a coup de grace, like dirks, but I forget the source. Also, don't forget crushing weapons, like the mace and its derivatives, that (with enough strength and leverage/swing) would happily kill straight through armour, plate or mail. They would be used by knights, particularly those in holy orders, IIRC. The ultimate plate-mail killer was perhaps the crossbow, but a knight wouldn't have used one. At the battle of Bannockburn, a good number of knights were killed by drowning. --Dweller (talk) 15:29, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Our article on stilettos says they were used to stab through chain mail or though gaps in plate armour, apparently more as an act of mercy than anything else - if your opponent was disabled enough for you to use a stiletto on them and not mortally wounded, you would capture them, as Medical geneticist says. --Tango (talk) 15:34, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

From my understanding of heavy cavalry combat, killing a knight took place in two steps. You used your lance to knock him off of his horse, then you crushed his skull with your mace. Even inside a helmet, you can do considerable damage with a heavy club. If the first blow doesn't kill him, it will disorient him enough that you can get in a few more and finish him off. There was probably lots of variation on this, but from my understanding their armour made light swords less effective (a knights sword was mainly for mowing down light infantry as you rode by on your horse, IIRC). --Jayron32 22:05, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Pony Express Trail

I have traveled much of the Pony Express Trail and while in Nevada, at Rock Springs Pass, there was a sign that proclaimed that to be the highest point along the entire length of the trail. It was less than 8,000 feet and it seems likely that there are higher points along the trail elsewhere. I would like to confirm this to be truly the highest point or not. I have tried every resource I can think of and have never gotten an answer. I would like to know the location and elevation of the highest point along the Pony Express Trail.143.69.88.3 (talk) 05:59, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

I can't answer you directly, but perhaps the USGS or some other US government organization has some detailed info on the topic. Given the right tools it would be easy to figure out, but getting those tools could be an issue. You might try throwing the trail into google earth and seeing if you can eyeball some high areas and see how high they get. All that aside, 8,000 feet is believable. So long as it avoided the mountains in Wyoming, and then again in California, none of the flatland areas in that route would hit anywhere near 8,000 feet. Shadowjams (talk) 07:11, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I would buy that as well. 8000 feet seems perfectly reasonable. Of course, there are some very tall peaks near the trail, but you don't make a trail over a peak; you make it in the passes and valleys between the peaks. So even if you are surrounded by 12,000 feet peaks, it seems reasonable to have passes at 8000 feet or so. --Jayron32 22:01, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

The Pony Express page has some info and leads on this. Rock Springs Pass is 7,900 feet according to the USGS GNIS. The route described on the Pony Express page, and mapped here indicates that South Pass was used between Wyoming and Utah, which is 7,550 feet. The Central Nevada Route from Salt Lake City to the Sierra Nevada sounds likely to be the place with the most gain--in part due to some reluctance to stick to the lower regions along the Humboldt River. Crossing the Sierras can be done at Daggertts Pass, 7,400 feet, and elsewhere at less than 7,900 feet. So my very brief research into this seems to suggest that Rock Springs Pass may well have been the highest point along the trail. Pfly (talk) 09:11, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Guitar

Why do all guitars have little dots painted on the fret board? 117.194.225.79 (talk) 07:46, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

So you can see where you are supposed to go more easily. It's harder to count, say, 12 frets at sight, but you can easily remember that the 12th fret has those two dots. Adam Bishop (talk) 08:18, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

It's not necessary—lots of similar instruments do not have fret markings (no one seems to need them for a cello or a violin)—but they are meant to be helpful. I think if one removed them and taught someone guitar without them, they would not require them. Advanced players generally don't have to look at the guitar at all, of course. --Mr.98 (talk) 15:37, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

It'd likely cost more to produce versions with them and without them, rather than to simply offer them all with - given that some users will prefer to have them, but very few will willfully not want them (they might not need them but that's hugely different to actively not wanting them on it) 194.221.133.226 (talk) 16:09, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Only because they are custom. You don't need them at all. If you learnt without them, you wouldn't require them in the slightest. --Mr.98 (talk) 15:26, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

There's probably a good reason why violins and cellos don't have dots between the frets. Think about it. DJ Clayworth (talk) 15:45, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Well, obviously they don't have frets, per say, but they could still easily have indicators of positions of notes, and they don't. They aren't necessary. --Mr.98 (talk) 15:26, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

I think he was referring to the fact that they're held in such as to make such things rather impractical. Matt Deres (talk) 01:11, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

There are fretless bass guitars (Bill Wyman claims to have invented it), but I've never seen a fretless acoustic or electric guitar. --TammyMoet (talk) 18:15, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Fretless guitar lists a few players. Adam Bishop (talk) 19:30, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Was also going to mention the fretless guitar link, but Adam Bishop beat me to it. Will mention that classical guitars generally don't have fret markers; I guess the supposition is if you're playing classical guitar music, you're sufficiently trained to have proper hand position and to keep your eyes off the fingerboard. Some jerk on the Internet (talk) 19:42, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Since someone mentioned fretless guitars, there are also in existance fretted bowed instruments, known as viols. --Jayron32 21:59, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

The dots on the side of the fretboard are far more important. One of my instrument has no dots on top, just on the edge. A friend has been using the guitar for a few years now, and she didn't even notice the lack of fretboard dots until I pointed it out. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 00:14, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Well, even though mine's a classical guitar (I just bought it a few days back, no idea how to play), it's got dots painted on the fretboard, as well as on the side...Thanks... I was wondering what they were for... Can anyone tell me whether playing electric guitars are any different from playing classical guitars? The sound maybe different, but isn't the method of playing both the same? OR at least very similar?? 117.194.229.56 (talk) 12:19, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

It's broadly similar in that the same tuning is generally used - so the chords are formed the same way - and the actual mechanics of playing is the same - but there are wide varieties of subtle techniques that may be applied to electric guitars that don't work so well for acoustics because they are not so sensitive. Also, the steel strings of an electric guitar are harder on your fingers - so if you're used to playing acoustics, it may take a while for your fingers to harden up! But someone who plays one kind of guitar can switch to the other kind and feel right at home immediately. SteveBaker (talk) 13:18, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Also, if I'm not mistaken, classical guitars have a flat fingerboard, while electric (and steel-string acoustic, for that matter) guitars have fingerboards of various radii, which would affect playing somewhat. You'd probably find it a little easier to move from classical to electric guitar, in that respect. Some jerk on the Internet (talk) 14:07, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Yes, true classical guitars have dead flat fingerboards - but "non-classical" acoustics tend to have the same kind of curve as electric guitars - which I suspect is due to the higher string tension required for steel strings. That demands more mechanical strength from the neck. The lateral curvature of the fingerboard would produce a stronger neck than the flat one found on classical guitars with gut or nylon strings. There may be some other reason for this - but I couldn't find one. SteveBaker (talk) 18:02, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

You will usually play an acoustic guitar with your finger tips and usually play an electric guitar with a plectrum. You will usually play an acoustic guitar without microphone or towards a single microphone or pickup, while an electric guitar is always played through an amplifier, often with additional devices to modify the sound such as a wah-wah pedal, equalizer, compressor, echo generator etc. A mediocre electric guitarist in a rock group stands with feet further apart than one would think necessary while no acoustic guitarist would be such a jerk. Maidens sacrifice themselves to electric guitarists but only give their hearts to an acoustic guitarist. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 23:20, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

And don't even ask what maidens sacrifice for ukulele players. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 02:26, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Oh no!! Oh no!! OH NO!!! I thought I was buying a classical guitar, but it's turned out that it's an acoustic guitar with steel strings, which means it's not classical. I bought it a few days back, and I've yet to start learning how to play it. I can't return it to the shop I bought it from. What do I do now??? Is there any way that the music people play on acoustic classical guitars can also be played on acoustic modern non-classical ones. To me, it seems that the sound quality if gut/ nylon strings are bound to be hugely different from the steel strings in my guitar (which, by the way, sounds exactly like the one in this . What do I do now?? 117.194.233.211 (talk) 08:19, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Buy a set of nylon strings for it? Shouldn't be expensive. 93.97.184.230 (talk) 09:23, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

A steel-string acoustic guitar, or "folk guitar," has a narrower neck than a classical guitar. Hence the solution of merely restringing it with a nylon set won't give you an instrument on which you can properly learn classical guitar. The methods are somewhat different, less so in the left-hand fingerings, more with the right-hand plucking (where folk guitar is mainly strumming with perhaps a walking bass line). A folk guitar is fine for playing chords, suitable for accompaning vocals. (Think of '60s American folk music.) Classical guitar's more of a solo instrument, with repertoire ranging from the Renaissance, Baroque, Spanish-style, and more recent periods including popular. If that's your objective, perhaps the vendor will agree to an exchange (rather than refund) and help you get the sort of instrument for the music you want to play. -- Deborahjay (talk) 11:59, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Who's a Humpty Dumpty ?

Wikipedia has an article about Humpty Dumpty a character who appears in the book Through the Looking-Glass. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:37, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

I recall watching the Australian Movie The Humpty Dumpty Man some years ago, and then a couple of weeks back, Enemy of the State, where Jon Voight tells his men to assemble a couple of Humpty Dumpties. I remember years ago that the term is used in espionage, in much the same way as honey trap , and the one who performs one, known as a swallow. What then is a humpty dumpty ? C.B.Lilly 12:27, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Seems to be someone who will take the fall (get the blame) if an operation goes wrong. From some internet forum or other "In the 1998 spy film Enemy of the State, NSA character Thomas Reynolds requests "two techs with full electronic capability, two Humpty Dumpties. Get Fielder to organise it." In this sense, Reynolds attempts unsuccessfully to apply plausible deniability so that an investigation by 'all the kings men' will not identify NSA management complicity." --Tagishsimon (talk) 12:32, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Thank You. That sounds more like it. That seemed to be the idea of the original Aussie film, where I believe the main character was being hunted down - rather like Will Smith 12 years later. I think I remember a lot of people getting offed. Makes sense. It is scary knowing someone is watching you. We have a spy base about 200 miles north of here that records things. Who knows what they get up to ? C.B.Lilly 12:43, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Car Rental in US

Say you want to rent a car. You need it for 4 days but you tell the person at the counter that you only need it for two days. Then you call the next day, while you have the rental car and you say you need to add two more days. Will they let you do that? Do you know if they charge extra? --Reticuli88 (talk) 16:11, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

It'll depend on the specific rental agency and their specific demand. What you ought to do instead is say up-front that you'd like the car for four days, but might return it in only two. In that case, you'll only be charged for the time rented. Likewise, ask about what the charges would be if you need to extend the rental a day or two. In my experience, there's no problem with either scenario provided up-front notice is given. — Lomn 16:41, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

(EC) First of all, there are dozens of car rental companies in the US. Each one will set its own policies. Generally speaking though, at the very least you will be charged the amount listed on your contract for extra days and extra hours. Lots of other details will be written in the contract. If it is a busy time - a holiday, after a major snowstorm, etc - then by keeping the car longer than you agreed, you may be inconveniencing somebody who holds a reservation that the rental company can't fulfill. --LarryMac | Talk 16:48, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

You should definitely read the fine print of your contract when you rent. Different companies specify different charges for late returns. Some companies offer a short 'grace period' of a half-hour or more for those slightly late returns; after that, there's often an hourly charge. Some companies will charge a higher rate for extra days, a few will even retroactively increase the daily rate on the entire rental period if your return is more than a few hours late. (Here's a summary of the late-return policies of several major U.S. car rental firms as of 2007: [1].)

If you ask for the rental for four days and are told the car is only available for two, then if you hold on to the car for extra days you're probably inconveniencing someone else who made a legitimate reservation. Please don't do this, because it would make you a jerk. On the other hand, if you book two days in good faith and then ask for an extension, many companies are willing to grant one. (You've got the car, they don't need extra paperwork, and they avoid the risk of an unrented vehicle on the lot.) Be aware that the extended rental may not be eligible for the same rates (lower or higher) that you might have paid for the first two days; depending on the contract, there may even be an effect on the rate you pay for the first two days' rental. The best thing to do is what Lomn suggests — be honest at the time of booking. Minimizing surprises on both sides of the transaction usually results in the least all-around aggravation. TenOfAllTrades(talk) 18:02, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Whether they can extend the reservation probably depends on whether someone else is waiting for it or not. They will probably charge you a fee in either case, but in the latter case they will probably regard it as "late", which is quite a fee. --Mr.98 (talk) 18:11, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

It always (in my experience) says right on the rental contract what the fee will be for additional days you keep the car beyond your reserved days. (Call in advance to find out about this, of course, and whether there are other fees for inconveniencing them.) Comet Tuttle (talk) 19:21, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

For sure, find out how the company does things. In my experience, which is mostly with Hertz but also companies like Budget and Enterprise, there is a daily rate and a weekly rate. If you go more than 4 days or so, you'll get the cheaper (when computed per-day) weekly rate. And they are typically flexible about when you return it, but for courtesy it's best to tell them if you intend to keep it longer. Returning it sooner is no problem for them, of course, and it might or might not cost you more depending on the number of days you kept it. As a quick example, renting a car for 2 days and turning it back after 1, I was only charged for 1 day. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 02:40, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

There are counterexamples, though: A guy in front of me in the line at Enterprise was returning a car he was supposed to have rented for a week, after three days. He ended up having to pay almost twice the amount, since full fees for three days were a lot more than the discounted weekly rate he would have paid according to his original plans. He was not happy! /Coffeeshivers (talk) 19:47, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

At that point he could have said, "Fine, I'll keep it for another 4 days." P.S. I don't rent from Enterprise anymore. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:54, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Arab world tv court

I notice that Arab World media has almost everything that U.S. has like singing idol contest, but I notice they don't have court tv like Judge Mathis, Judge Alex and Judge Judy. Why? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.64.52.214 (talk) 19:43, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Is there small claims court in any of the Arab countries? Thats pretty much what these court television shows are (although I don't think they are actual courts of law, more like arbitration or mediation.). Livewireo (talk) 20:33, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Is it possible that they don't have the ability to outsource justice in the same way as the US? For example, the rather complex legal documents people going on those programmes have to sign. - Jarry1250 ^{[Humorous? Discuss.]} 20:37, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Note that some of that stuff is not originally American (singing idol contests, for example). What about the rest of the world that also has American-ish TV shows? Canada does everything the US does but we don't have any Judge Judy-type shows either. Maybe it is unique to American law. Adam Bishop (talk) 21:35, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

It's certainly not unique to the US - we have 'De Rijdende Rechter' (the driving judge) in the Netherlands, who will usually deliver his final verdict in the TV studio. He's a real judge, but formally it's a binding arbitration procedure too, not an actual court of law. Unilynx (talk) 22:11, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

I've also seen Judge Judy-type shows in India. Calliopejen1 (talk) 00:20, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Sharia law is applied in Islamic arab societies but televison companies have been slow to realize the popular entertainment potential of amputating the hand of a thief or stoning an adulterer to death. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 00:44, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

I don't know about Judge Judy or the rest of the shows you mentioned but The People's Court had a disclaimer at the beginning (and end?) of the show which explained that it was not an actual court of law and that Judge Wapner was not a judge at the time. The people simply signed contracts saying that they would not take their issue to court and would live up to whatever Wapner decided. The bailiff, courtroom, and such was just a stage and actors. It's possible that Arab countries don't have any laws that say that small claims can be settled outside of an actual court of law. Dismas|^(talk) 02:53, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

. Please do not guess. Comet Tuttle (talk) 08:16, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

In Judge Judy the parties to the case don't even pay the compensation they are ordered to pay, the production company does (the source is linked to in our article, Judge Judy). (They do transfer other property as ordered, though.) Maybe Arabs are not as easy to fool as Americans? ;) --Tango (talk) 14:36, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Imagine if Judge Judy had the authority to have the loser's right hand removed. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 15:18, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

The source is http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0002/18/lkl.00.html. Thanks, 174.114.4.18 (talk) 14:57, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Contact Meryl by codec(Metal Gear Solid)

It says I need to contact her and her frequency is located on the back of the CD case. But this is a psp download. what is this codec? please do the needful. Thanks

142.176.13.22 (talk) 22:18, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Perhaps you've heard of this amazing new website called Google? --LarryMac | Talk 23:36, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

December 23

Coloured/dyslexia notepads

Hi, does anyone know of a high-street shop in the UK which would sell pads like this – non-white lined paper? Rymans themselves don't stock them in branches, only online :( Ta! ╟─TreasuryTag►consulate─╢ 11:51, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Pukka have a list of stockists on their website here. Nanonic (talk) 16:53, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

See the article Dyslexia if you wonder about a paper merchant who puts a diagnosable neurological condition on their tinted product. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 23:00, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Trying to find an specific car...

I'm sure it is an Honda , but which? , My uncle owned this White and black old Honda ... (model year: 1984 - 1987) The body looked like an 3 door Honda Civic Shuttle '86 , but the rear lights were not the same , Yes they were Square in shape but they were right under the Rear window.

(his car looked excactly the same, but the rear lights were different and the body was larger and like on an Shuttle but 3 door. And the boot-lid was black and the body white like this 1) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3273055976_8ec5fe66b8.jpg It looked excactly the same but the body was bigger and the lights were bigger and more up , and nearer the rear window.

and just to let you know it was an HONDA. It was NOT the normal shuttle. It was 3 door. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.220.41.143 (talk) 16:18, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Sounds like the Accord hatchback? Or the Prelude? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:24, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Nope, sorry neither of these, It looked the most like an Civic and could be! , But Ive checked and I found no civic's that looked like it Except the Old hatchback version and the 'shuttle'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.220.41.143 (talk) 16:38, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Maybe it was customized? Kingsfold (talk) 19:39, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Nope , But I found out , It was an old Civic , but no Civic I've ever seen again. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.220.41.143 (talk) 08:56, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Did anyone ever take a picture of that car, i.e. could it be posted here? As one who used to drive a Honda, I'm curious. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:52, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

'Aerodek' ?--85.210.188.64 (talk) 22:27, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

??? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:04, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Sorry, 'Aerodeck" I've had four of them so should know how to spell it!--85.210.188.64 (talk) 00:15, 25 December 2009 (UTC).

I concur. Looks like a Civic Aerodeck to me. However, the angle the photo's taken from is a little strange. But the Aerodeck seems the most likely candidate. --TammyMoet (talk) 09:17, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

In terms of the way I think, I've met guys who are really on my wavelength, but few women

I am straight and do not find men sexually attractive, but there have been more guys that have fitted my personality type, some enough to the extent that I wish they were female so I could have sex with them, and few women have really clicked it off with me. But one did. But I broke up with her. What gives? What is the problem?--Jeremy of the Grapevine (talk) 23:57, 23 December 2009 (UTC)

Wikipedia isn't really the place to get relationship advice. The reference desks generally do a good job of providing links to articles where you can answer factual questions. Questions on what is going on in your personal life are best suited for other venues. --Jayron32 00:49, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The original poster seems to be stating that he has found some men to be sexually attractive, and wishes they had different underpinnings to allow coitus of the ordinary sort. He says he had a relationship with one female. He asks "What gives?" and "What is the problem?" This is an encyclopedia. The article Bisexuality might be helpful. Edison (talk) 06:18, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The OP clearly does not mean sexually attractive. [Picture of Edison's brain] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.44.221.221 (talk) 01:51, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

No. Unless you find a pretty on point article I'm going to side with Jayron. There are plenty of discussion groups. In fact, this question could be asked a dozen different ways that would be answered here in earnest. But how it's asked now isn't especially insightful. Shadowjams (talk) 10:42, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Yes it's a real problem. As Professor Higgins said:

Why can't a woman be more like a man?

Men are so honest, so thoroughly square;

Eternally noble, historic'ly fair;

Who, when you win, will always give your back a pat.

Well, why can't a woman be like that?

;-) Dmcq (talk) 12:12, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

The OP is asking a question that, while not exactly medical, would probably be better suited for a professional counselor of some kind. Since no one here knows the OP, the answer to "What is the problem?" is not knowable by anyone here. 14:50, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

December 24

Where do Wikipedians go to ask dumb, or at least silly, questions?

Okay, I get it. This page is for serious questions.

I appreciate and respect that
—or at least try too.

But where can I ask my silly questions, the entertaining or joke questions—or attempts thereof:
like the one’s I’d ask in Yahoo! Answers (I know, such were generally TOS violations there, but I’m trying to change)
—before I went to Answerbag?

Where a question like:
"YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAaaa… Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss?"
can a great answer from a great Belgian Trotskyite I meet there.

or I can go to a Persian site and ask questions like: "Why aren’t there topless anarchists parading in Tehran yet?"
or the versions in YA here, here, and here.

What I’m looking for is a site where:
(1) like Wikipedia, all I need to register is an email address (not even that for Wikipedia), username, and password;
(2) like Wikipedia, multiple accounts are permitted;
(3) I can ask risque questions and the like;
(4) there’s a decent amount of traffic;
and the hardest,
(5) like Wikipedia, the members are generally cool.

Here's more or less the same question asked on Fluther.
Thanks for any and all help.
:-D
Civic Cat (talk) 21:05, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Conservapedia is known for their sense of humor. Give them a try and report back on how it worked out. :) ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:10, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

I like to be welcome, or at least not unwelcome--like the RationalWiki Saloon Bar.Civic Cat (talk) 21:22, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

As a square I resent the implication that I might be 'cool', I don't deliberately ask stupid questions, and I didn't know the two were related. Dmcq (talk) 23:11, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

A couple of decades ago, there was a book (in a gray cover, naturally) called Dare to Be Dull, describing many ways to be purposely un-hip, such as driving a station wagon instead of a sports car. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 17:01, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Traditionally, the Internet Oracle. Comet Tuttle (talk) 05:21, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

How about /b/? anonymous6494 23:10, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

December 25

Do you think it is likely that 24 hour garages will be open on Christmas day in the UK?

Just wondering.--Idun90 (talk) 00:09, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Like Shell, BP and so on.--Idun90 (talk) 00:50, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

It depends on location - 24hour motorway service stations are open 365 days of the year (thats part of their licence), petrol stations on major roads are usually open, rural and supermarket petrol stations are generally closed but those supermarket stations that offer 'Pay at Pump' are normally open, just not manned. Nanonic (talk) 01:00, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

If they are not, they shouldn't claim 24 hour. Usually, though this refers to the provision of fuel. i.e. Don't confuse a 'Garage' with a 'Filling Station'.Froggie34 (talk) 15:52, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

In the UK "garage" is often used to mean a filling station - Shell and BP are filling stations, they don't generally sell cars or fix them. --Tango (talk) 20:08, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

In the USA at least, even stores generally open 24 x 7, and advertised as such, are sometimes closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, the two holidays where it seems like nearly everything closes except for vital services. By now, I would imagine the OP has his answer, but if it were me, I would have called my favorite gas station and/or garage and asked them what their holidays are going to be. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:14, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Are Chinese restaurants a vital service? There's a tradition[2] for many who don't celebrate Christmas of eating Chinese that day. And a menu[3] that includes "Kosher Walnut Prawns" is notable, somehow. PhGustaf (talk) 20:30, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Walgreen's Drug Stores typically stay open too. I think a fair number of restaurants do open on Thanksgiving and Christmas and probably do a lot of business. I'm thinking more in terms of retail stores. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:37, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

And I'm left wondering why it matters. If they're just a standard commuter, the OP could get gas the previous day. Or if they're a delivery man of some sort or long haul trucker, then they could probably stop at a filling station that is frequented by such vehicles and they would have a better chance of being open than a local small town filling station. Although, I guess the point is moot now since it's Boxing Day morning in the UK now... Dismas|^(talk) 05:58, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

BERMUDA TRIANGLE

can anybody say me about Bermuda triangle ??? has the mystery solved??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.197.240.252 (talk) 08:20, 25 December 2009 (UTC)_{(I have reformatted the question into its own section. Caesar's Daddy (talk) 08:40, 25 December 2009 (UTC)}

Have you read the Bermuda Triangle article. The second paragraph seems to answer your question. Richard Avery (talk) 08:49, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

The 1975 book called The Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved pretty well demolished the various "mysteries" by demonstrating that they all have rational explanations and that many times the researchers had misinterpreted or misstated the original reports on the disappearances. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 16:59, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Breaking in new headphones

I've heard of people "breaking in" new headphones (or earbuds) by playing music through them for tens of hours before actually using them to listen to music. Are there objective measurements that confirm whether such breaking-in actually does anything? --173.49.78.112 (talk) 17:44, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

Where have you read this? They have moving parts and it is plausible that the elasticity could change after the first few hours, but why would anyone worry about the sound not being "perfect" at first listening? I have certainly not observed any improvement over the first few hours. It smacks of an audio myth, and another website expresses doubts [4]. Sustained high input levels can damage a speaker or an earphone. Maybe some listeners prefer the distorted sound of fried audio reproducers. Edison (talk) 02:05, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

The premise sounds like bullshit to me. But why not just listen to them for a few hours and see whether the sound seems to change? PhGustaf (talk) 02:46, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

If you listen to them for a few hours, the perceived sound may very well change; however, not because the headphone output changes, but rather because your auditory system adapts. --Dr Dima (talk) 09:15, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Could you help me with my searching for the following piece of information?

What is the single cheapest two-way flight in March 2010 from anywhere in Europe (preferably Eastern Europe) to Washington Dulles International Airport and back? The ticket could include a change of planes. Thank you in advance and merry Christmas to everyone. --62.204.152.181 (talk) 18:34, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

You could try looking at the orbitz or the expedia websites. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:01, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

The cheapest ticket from Dulles to Europe will almost certainly not be to Eastern Europe. If you could offer a more specific destination, I could suggest economical options, including flying into a less expensive destination nearby and then proceeding by bus or train. If it is more important for you to land somewhere in Europe than to get to Eastern Europe, then the cheapest European destination is usually London. After some searching, the lowest fare I found to any European destination was in fact to London, to which cheapoair.com offers a fare of $581 round-trip (return)—including taxes—for midweek flights (apparently with Virgin Atlantic) during the first two weeks of March. (As the weather improves later in March, the fares rise a bit.) When researching fares, be sure to check the total cost including taxes, as taxes can double the cost of the flight. Now, if your destination is really the Czech Republic or Hungary or anywhere farther east, then you will spend more taking the cheap flight to London and then continuing by rail to your actual destination than you would if you took a slightly more expensive flight to an airport such as Frankfurt or Vienna closer to your destination and then continued by rail. It might even be cheaper just to fly to the country where you want to end up. Marco polo (talk) 23:28, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

You asked me to offer a more specific destination and I will do it. My destination is neither the Czech Republic nor Hungary; it is Bulgaria. And there aren't direct flights from Bulgaria to the USA. Here's what I managed to find after doing some search in cheapoair.com - it shows a cheapest round-trip flight from Sofia to Washington, D.C. and back costs $851, including the taxes. (The depart and return dates I used in my searching are just example ones.) The results from orbitz.com and expedia.com aren't very different from that. But my idea was the same as you mentioned - whether I could take a bus or train to somewhere, e. g. Athens, Budapest or even Vienna (with Vienna itself seeming to me somewhat too far away from Sofia to rely on a cheap bus ticket) and then take a direct, or, as I could imagine, not necessarily direct, flight to the USA. The question is if there exists a destination in Europe which I would spend less money to travel to by train than I would safe by flying from there to Washington. --62.204.152.181 (talk) 04:57, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Istanbul? Orbitz lists a roundtrip, 1-stop, single adult fair of $638, and Istanbul is only 300 miles or so from Sofia. Certainly closer than Vienna (800 miles). Athens is 350 miles away, and it costs $770 for the same flight as Istanbul. I have no idea what local rail or bus is like in these areas, but if you are looking for near Sofia and cheap, then Istanbul looks like your best option. --Jayron32 05:16, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Belgrade and Bucharest might be other options. Cheapoair.com lists a $622 round trip to/from Belgrade, and an even cheaper possibility from Bucharest. Ansd they're both even closer than Istanbul. Grutness...wha? 06:53, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

LOT Polish Airlines has inexpensive flights to Eastern Europe. For example, they are offering round-trip flights from New York to eight Polish destinations for $390 plus fees. They don't fly to Washington, though, only to New York and Chicago. You really have to ask yourself if it's worth it, though. Krakow is quite a hike from Sofia, and then you've got to get from Queens to Virginia. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 23:01, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

You can fly from Sofia to London Luton on Wizz Air Bulgaria. Return tickets in March are from €52. Luton doesn't serve transatlantic destinations, but a bus can take you to another London airport for a transatlantic flight - can't remember the name of the bus company or the fare, but it is not a lot. Astronaut (talk) 03:09, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

There's something vaguely unsettling about the name "Wizz Air". They do know they're flying real aircraft, and not toy planes, don't they?  :) -- Jack of Oz ... speak! ... 18:39, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Indeed. The logo on their planes looks like ZZiM upside-down. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:37, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

December 26

this Christmas i want to help someone desperate for help...

i remember a few years ago i saw a website where people went when they were one bill away from utter ruin...like an electric bill, or getting their car inspected...listed on the site were all kinds of requests...and you could pay that person's electric bill that month...sometimes the difference can help prevent someone from spiraling into chaos and further poverty....anyway, i can't remember the name of the site...if anyone knows of this site i am referring to, or any other similar site, can you please post the link here? this christmas i want to help someone desperate for help. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.101.75.128 (talk) 13:22, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Proximus sum egomet mihi. -- Publius Terentius Afer. Our charity begins at home, And mostly ends where it begins.-- Horace Smith. This may be the website that you seek. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 19:36, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Tony Romo Hat/Cap

I'm really frustrated about this. I know there must be a name for this. Does any one know what you call that hat that Tony Romo wears during his post game interviews? The best I can describe it is that I believe it is British and the bill of the cap snaps to the top of the hat. If you Google Tony Romo Hat, you'll see what I'm talking about. Anybody know what it's called? Tex (talk) 20:07, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

This site calls it a "newsboy cap". Bielle (talk) 21:07, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

WP has a different design for a newsboy cap and calls it a variation of the flat cap, which does look like the Roma hat. The WP "newsboy cap" has a bigger brim than the one I see Tony Roma wearing. The off-site link to Hats Plus calls WP's "flat cap" a "newsboy cap". Your choice, absent any further sourced information. Bielle (talk) 21:15, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

Looking at the pictures of Mr Romo that don't show him wearing a normal baseball cap, I would describe his hat as a golf cap. I note that's just a redirect to flat cap at the moment - however, the second picture on the flat cap page is (IMO) a golf cap rather than a true flat cap. Note (a) the definite peak at the front, and (b) the much wider and broader body, compared with the "true" flat cap in the top picture. The lack of panels and top button distinguish the golf cap from the true newsboy cap previously mentioned. Tevildo (talk) 04:52, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

A golf cap. Yours for only $30! Other on-line hat-shops are available. Tevildo (talk) 04:59, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

The picture on this site (scroll down about 6 pictures to the white-flat-cap photo) of Mr Romo wearing his hat calls it an Ivy cap. Bielle (talk) 07:39, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Sounds reasonable - I note that the other golf caps in Atlas' range are called "Harvard", "Princeton", "Cambridge" and "Brooklyn". OK, the last two aren't Ivy League, but I think that might be the derivation of the name. Incidentally - "Colossal toolbag Tony Romo"? Is that as serious an insult as it would be over here? :) Tevildo (talk) 12:54, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

olmpic ring

Was there a ring (jewelry) that was given to participates in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City?76.113.103.104 (talk) 23:11, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

In addition to medals they did receive rings. Here is one reference to those rings. I hope this helps. JW..[ T..C ] 00:17, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

December 27

"Load" of laundry as a unit

How large is a "load" of laundry?

For those of you who say that this is not a unit of measure, I see it used on product packaging as a unit of measure. If a bottle of detergent contains enough for eleventeen "loads" of laundry, that is eleventeen times what quantity? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.44.221.221 (talk) 01:36, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

The amount of clothing held in an evenly-packed washing machine is considered "one load." It will vary by size of machine, so you've got do a little guessing, but standard is usually around 8 pounds. ~ Amory (u • t • c) 02:13, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

(ec) 8 pounds is quite a small capacity - are you sure Amory? I doubt there is a precise definition. Most domestic washing machines have a maximum capacity of around 8 kg (dry weight) of washing and your bottle of detergent will have enough to run the washing machine "eleventeen" times. If you wash a lot less per run of the machine, you might be able to reduce the amount of detergent (and water if you use a "reduced load" feature) and therefore get more than eleventeen washes per bottle. On the other hand, if you own a large capacity machine (my sister's machine can take 11 kg) or use a laundrette you may have to use more detergent per wash. Astronaut (talk) 02:31, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

I wonder if this should be included on the list of unusual units of measurement. — Michael J 02:33, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Washing machine gives some (not many) numbers. One gives a value of 6kg and another suggestion under 5kg for efficient, one person usage. I was assuming a standard being for one person, and in my experience those have been 8-10 pounds, although I usually cram more in. ~ Amory (u • t • c) 03:22, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Also worth noting, detergent manufacturers like to sell their product, therefore are likely to overstate the required amount of detergent per load. Also worth considering is how dirty your clothes are. I've noticed that for my clothes, sometimes nothing more than a rinse is required.Aaronite (talk) 17:45, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Bottled detergent is usually for washing dishes and washing powder is usual for laundry. Either is sometimes sold with a measuring aid, such as the bottle cap, which may define what the manufacturer considers the dose for one "load". Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:33, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Stomach punch

Why is it hurt when you are punched in your stomach? 72.130.134.122 (talk) 05:53, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

I know this isn't a really useful answer, but here it is anyway. Why does it hurt, no matter where you are punched? Blunt force at a high speed causes pain. Nerves react to trauma, and the pain is there to alert you to the potential for damage.Aaronite (talk) 06:01, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Probably something to do with Celiac plexus. Bus stop (talk) 06:11, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

It caused the death of Harry Houdini. Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:59, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Pain is one of your body's ways of saying this is a bad idea, please stop using me as a punchbag. Dmcq (talk) 13:24, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Being full of important organs and unprotected by bones (like the chest is), it's a very vulnerable point, as well as being highly deformable. This makes it important to tell you when it's been hurt, so you can protect it. If you reduce the deformity by tensing the muscles of your abdomen, it hurts a lot less - also the reason Harry Houdini died, since he was caught off-guard and didn't have chance to do exactly this. Vimescarrot (talk) 13:30, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Our article mentions the doubts to this story in a pretty offhand way, but Snopes calls it simply false. "Most modern medical experts assert that appendicitis caused by blunt trauma is impossible and/or unknown in medical history..." Matt Deres (talk) 19:25, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Good grief. QI leads me wrong again! Vimescarrot (talk) 22:13, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Digital camera

Is it physically possible to get a robust, small digital camera with low shutter lag and high optical zoom? Aaadddaaammm (talk) 08:53, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

It would depend on your definition of robust, small, low shutter lag and high optical zoom. --Phil Holmes (talk) 12:24, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Small and high optical zoom don't go together ell because of interference effects no matter how accurately the lens is ground. Small, high optical zoom and high speed don't go well with the requirement to capture enough photons to form a decent picture except in bright daylight. Robust and small aren't too hard to get together, in fact making things small can make them more robust, for example a watch tends to be more robust than a grandfather clock when knocked onto the ground. Dmcq (talk) 13:31, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Robustness sometimes refers to waterproofing or shockproofing (safe falling a certain distance). These both require additional size for padding and protective covering. Perhaps if the questioner indicated what he/she meant. Certainly a camera like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 (8x zoom) or the larger ZS1 (12x), or the Canon PowerShot SX200 (12x zoom) offer considerable power in a compact camera form factor with reasonable speed of operation (they don't focus instantly, but once focussed will respond quickly). You could check the details via Google or on dpreview.com --82.41.11.134 (talk) 23:09, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Washing clothes when on holiday

I recently took an extensive road-trip round Europe and because I simply do not have enough clothes (or bags to pack them in) to let me travel for more than a couple of weeks, I had to find a way to wash my clothes. Here in the UK, laundrettes are quite common with most small towns having at least one; and when I have travelled in the USA, I find most small towns will have a laundromat. However, in my experience they are a very rare thing in continental Europe: In Italy the nearest appeared to be in a town over 100 km away (only to find I had gone to the home of the owner of a laundrette); in Budapest my hotel receptionist kept directing me to dry-cleaning places; in Krakow my hotel receptionist had never heard of such a thing; and in Germany I was able to find one in a town some 50 km away. Without resorting to paying a hotel 4 EUR to wash each pair of socks and 8 EUR to wash each shirt, how do people get their clothes washed when on a road-trip in Europe? Astronaut (talk) 10:49, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

You have to hand wash them and find some way of drying them (or, more likely, leaving them to dry). --Richardrj ^{talk email} 11:07, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Take along your own washing line and get practice in looking for things at different sides of your shower room to tie it to. (This by the way is one reason to splurge on rooms that come with their own showers.) And clothes pegs and the works. The people who clean hotel rooms while their occupants are away during the day are used to seeing this; just don't let wet clothes drip onto any carpet. I can't count the number of European nations whose hotels have hosted my washing lines. -- Hoary (talk) 16:03, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

This page has some tips [5] and you can get special travel wash gel[6] to save carrying a big box of powder around. Alansplodge (talk) 17:41, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

A quick google for "Amsterdam Laundry" finds a number of self-service "Wasserettes", and similar for Berlin finds a number of "Waschsalon", a few of which combine that with being a cafe. I'd imagine that most places on the main backpacker itinerary will have these, squirrelled away. Many of the larger backpacker hostels will have laundry facilities (which I'd be astonished if they wouldn't let a non-resident use), and surely all will know where to go. I'm not surprised fancy hotel people don't (or claim not) to know where such things are. For Krakow there's Pepe and Frania, both of the cafe-laundry type. I don't have one to hand, but I'm pretty sure this is covered in the rough-guide type travel books (those that cater for dirty-ish hippies, rather than the higher end of the market). 217.43.149.157 (talk) 19:34, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

There were a couple in Prague a few years back that largely served foreign residents and travelers. Every Czech apartment seems to come with a washing machine, although it's sometimes a 30-year-old model serving as one of Communism's lasting legacies. And no one there seems to have ever heard of a tumble dryer. So there's little reason for locals to ever use a coin laundry. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:30, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Skeptics on Valentich Disappearance

Is there some good references by skeptics about Valentich Disappearance? --Qoklp (talk) 15:43, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

You may count me among those you identify as skeptics but who merely need convincing that an unlikely event occurred in the way one unavailable person may have said it did over a radio link. Such claims as 'The fact that they have found no trace of him really verifies the fact that UFOs could have been there' (sourced at Valentich Disappearance) are laughable. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:24, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Device to locate a parked car

Name a device that one can use to locate one's parked car. Saying "just remember it" or "write it down" will not do. Neither will anything which begins "every time you park your car, remember to...". If no such device exists, say so.

I have had it with losing track of where I parked. My calendar watch tells me what day it is without me having to update it manually every day; I want something similar for where I parked a car. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.44.221.221 (talk) 18:53, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

This link will probably help you find what you are looking for. I hope this helps. JW..[ T..C ] 19:21, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

These devices are very useful within wireless range, but if you have walked some distance from your car, you might prefer to carry a GPS receiver (which you must remember to set by pressing the "mark position" button as you leave the car). Most such hand-held devices have an arrow to point to your car, but will not tell you what level for multi-storey parking, in fact they will usually not work well in an area with tall buildings and narrow streets. Perhaps someone should market a self-setting unit that combines the two technologies? Dbfirs 19:38, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

There are a number of 'apps' for the iPhone which do this, and tell you what level you are on!--85.210.188.64 (talk) 20:09, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

There are several handy ideas at the Google Answers link provided by JW above. The first idea of remotely hooting the car horn is however antisocial and even illegal in some areas, such as near hospitals. To the OP, your wording is in the form of demands; please note that we are volunteers who are happy to deal with civil questions. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:06, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

One lo-tech solution, assuming you know approximately where you've parked your car, is to attach something distinctive to the aerial (antenna), which you can see from a reasonable distance. As long as it's attached securely and is reasonably weatherproof, you don't need to worry about "activating" it when you leave the car. Tevildo (talk) 22:53, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Manhattan gas stations

Hello. I had the briefest thought just now: Where do cabs and cars in New York City drive to replenish their fuel? Given that normal gas stations have very little in terms of height (normally a single-floor building that takes up a lot of area), I'd assume rent prices for these lots to be too pricy to accommodate for fuel stores. Not to mention the storage tanks of the fuel would likely be some sort of hazard, or at least difficult to plan for and replenish. Do gas stations dot downtown Manhattan like in other places? Maybe in the periphery, near the docks? Thanks in advance for your help! 77.18.9.130 (talk) 19:30, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Based on a little googling, the price of gas in NYC seems to be about 10 cents a gallon more expensive than the national average (that's about 4% higher), so that might cover some of the high rents. It's not enough to completely explain it, though - I'm sure the rent per square foot in NYC is more than 4% higher than the national average. --Tango (talk) 20:26, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Google Maps shows at least 10 of them in Manhattan (although if you keep zooming in there seems to be hundreds). In Toronto (which is of course just like New York, without all the stuff), there are a few gas stations downtown, but not in the few blocks that are really downtown (the financial/entertainment areas). The ones that do exist downtown are always full of taxis. Adam Bishop (talk) 21:44, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Hmm, on further inspection a lot of those are just corporate offices. But there are some; there's a Gulf station at FDR Drive and East 23rd Street, if that counts as downtown. And 11th Avenue and West 51st Street, that seems pretty downtown to me. Adam Bishop (talk) 22:00, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

You've also got to imagine the volume is a lot higher for stations in a downtown area, considering the amount of traffic in the vicinity and the comparative lack of competition. And much of the profit at gas stations comes from retail-store sales anyway, and operating a 24-hour convenience store in the heart of Manhattan must have its advantages. -- Mwalcoff (talk) 22:24, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Setting up a conference call

We need to set up a lengthy one-time conference call (~1 hour) between half a dozen people all on landlines or mobiles in the continental US. Skype can do this (by calling the landlines from a computer whose sound is muted), but the quality is unacceptably poor (frequent dropouts). An operator-assisted conference call would presumably work but it seems to be ludicrously expensive (hundreds of dollars per hour). The call is supposed to happen today (Sunday) in a few hours, so anything that would require a business day to set up is out of the question. There are a bunch of web sites claiming to offer this service but we don't know which to trust. Any suggestions from someone who's been through this before? -- BenRG (talk) 22:17, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

Wheelchairs

why are people in wheelchairs considered a fire hazard? Are they more combustible than walking people? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.75.24.71 (talk) 22:37, 27 December 2009 (UTC)

To answer this question seriously, it's (theoretically) because a wheelchair user will find it more difficult to evacuate the building in the event of fire, and are at risk of being burnt if a fire breaks out. (Assuming the staff of the premises can't assist them). However, such an argument would be unlikely to work against a claim of discrimination, where anti-discrimination legislation exists. Tevildo (talk) 22:56, 27 December 2009 (UTC)